# Community Support Projects toward a Sound Material-Cycle Society

The Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society requires that the State should support regional model efforts carried out by various bodies such as NPOs and NGOs.

In response to this, the Ministry of the Environment is promoting the development of regional efforts, through publicly seeking approaches toward the establishment of a Sound Material-Cycle Society to be cooperatively carried out by NPOs, NGOs or business operators and the local governments; such should also serve as models for other regions, and be implemented as community support projects toward the realization of a Sound Material-Cycle Society.

In FY 2008, from around Japan, 30 projects were submitted, of which 8 were adopted. The outlines of the adopted projects are as follows:

The World of Earth-Friendly “3Rs” – Its practice and educational campaign – Don’t Tear It Down! Use Your Brain and It Can Be Used! Project (Kazemachi Study Group)

An old family residence in Kesennuma City, which was built during the early Showa years and has distinctive local characteristics, was restored after research had been carried out. This family residence became a base for regional activities, and educational campaigns for the 3Rs have been implemented, through activities such as creating exhibits out of goods collected from demolished sites, and holding photo sessions of "the 3Rs" with high-school students from the city. Also, candles set in candle holders made from waste bottles were lighted along the shore of Kesennuma Bay, contributing to the townscape and scenery.

○ Model Project for Establishing a Unified Reuse System for 720/900 ml Glass Bottles in Yokohama City (Ecological Life and Culture Organization)

A reuse system for 720/900 ml glass bottles (filling, distribution, sales, collection, cleansing and reuse) was introduced in Yokohama City, a city of the Tokyo Metropolitan District, where a collection/resources recycling system was established in a specific area, and efforts were made toward waste reduction, energy saving and the establishment of a Sound Material-Cycle Society. Also, along with researching changes in collection efficiency, efforts were made toward the popularization of reusable containers in other areas, by analyzing/evaluating the results of a consumer questionnaire survey and interview survey of relevant people.

☐ “Nagoya Reuse Station” Demonstration Project (Takeuchi Laboratory, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University)

“Nagoya Reuse Stations” were added to existing recycling bases in Nagoya City, where reusable daily commodities were collected, and were given back to the local residents. Also, reuse and waste reduction within the city was promoted through such means as the implementation of questionnaire surveys of the users of the “Reuse Stations” and PR activities via the website.

○ Project for Establishing a Business Model by Creating a Loop of Recyclable Food Resources (Okaeriyasai Project)

Compost is made from the recyclable food resources generated by supermarkets, elementary schools and others in Nagoya City, and vegetables are grown using the compost. The vegetables grown are certified as “Okaeriyasai”, and efforts are made to establish a loop of recyclable food resources in the metropolitan areas and to construct a business model, by implementing sales/promotion activities, and returning the vegetables to Nagoya city’s market and food services at schools. Also, the model project sites by accepting visitors were used for environmental study programs for local residents.

○ Project to Create Incentives for Managing Countryside Hills through Promoting the Use of Firewood, and to Establish a Network for Reusing the Ashes/Soot (Noto Hanto Oraccha no Satoyama Satoumi)

By implementing maintenance of otherwise neglected countryside hills, and promoting their management, thinned wood generated from managing them were used as household firewood for wood stoves. On top of utilizing the ashes and soot discharged after the use of firewood in marine product processing, agriculture and other uses, efforts were also made to promote the utilization of unused resources, through creating systems for recycling/reusing the resources from countryside hills within the region.

☐ Demonstration Project for Developing an Action System toward the Reduction of “Domestic Garbage” Utilizing IT Technologies and Collection Vehicles with Measuring Instruments with the Collaboration of Citizens, Businesses and NPOs (Learning and Ecological Activities Foundation for Children)

Domestic garbage (raw garbage and other garbage such as plastics) discharged by the residents of the model area was collected by collection vehicles equipped with measuring instruments, the amount was measured, and information concerning the discharged garbage was provided to each household through means such as the Internet. Also, questionnaire surveys concerning changes in awareness and action regarding domestic garbage were made among the residents involved in the project, and efforts were made to create a model example for reducing garbage discharge by raising the awareness of each individual concerning waste reduction, through the establishment of a system where each body, namely the residents who discharge garbage and the garbage collectors who collect them, can participate and cooperate in creating a system for reducing domestic garbage.

○ Revitalization Project of the Local Community